Tom Brady - A History of Controversies

By: Sophia Nowicki

Photo of Tom Brady, Bucs Quarterback

Tom Brady has been a controversial figure in the NFL ever since he started football. Over the years, many speculations have been made about his life and behavior in football. In 2007, he was accused of spying on opposing teams' practices, which resulted in a hefty fine and the loss of a first-round draft pick. In 2015, Brady was found to have knowingly taken part in the deflation of footballs in the Deflategate scandal, which resulted in a four-game suspension. Additionally, Brady's divorce from supermodel Gisele Bundchen sparked a media frenzy that surrounded the couple for months, along with many more.

The most recent event in Brady’s career has beenis his divorce with his wife, Gisele Bündchen. Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen recently announced their split after 14 years of marriage. The couple had been together since 2006 and were married in 2009. They have two children, Benjamin and Vivian. The couple released a statement saying that after long and careful consideration, they have made the difficult decision to separate as a couple. The New York Times article about the couple's divorces states, “The couple’s announcement comes after months of fan and media speculation about perceived discord in their marriage. Many speculated that Ms. Bündchen and Mr. Brady fought over his decision to backtrack on his retirement from professional football after 22 seasons. After first announcing his retirement at age 44 in February, Mr. Brady later announced in March that he would be returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 23rd N.F.L. season.” The rumors of the divorce are all rooted in the speculation that Gisele may be holding Tom back from football. She also states in the article that, “Obviously, I have my concerns — this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” she said. “I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too.” After this statement was made, Tom missed several days of training camp which worried fans and started up all the rumors about their marriage. After both made the announcement questions and hate flooded social media.

The Deflategate scandal of 2015 has arguably been one of the most controversial incidents in the history of the NFL. According to the New York Post, “Arguably the most controversial moment of his career, “Deflategate” was born after Brady and the Patriots were accused of deflating game balls for the AFC Championship Game against the Colts in Jan. 2015. It resulted in a years-long NFL investigation, in which the Patriots and Brady maintained his innocence. The quarterback ultimately served a four-game suspension in 2016, after losing an appeal to overturn the discipline because the NFL believed he was ‘“generally aware’” of the situation.” Tom Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots, was accused of ordering the deflation of footballs during the game against the Indianapolis Colts. Many fans were upset with his behavior and he got into some hot water with the football community.

Brady’s 2007 Spygate scandal was, again, one of the most well-known controversies of his career. In that incident, Brady and the Patriots were accused of illegally filming the New York Jets’ practices in order to gain an advantage. Fox News states, “Following a 2007 game between the Patriots and the New York Jets, the NFL alleged that the Patriots had illegally taped the Jets’ play-call signals. An investigation resulted in the NFL fining the team 250,000. Bill Belichick, the head coach for the Patriots, was also fined $500,000. The fines were paid and the team continued on with the season, making no admission of guilt.” Although Brady was not personally punished, the incident still managed to cast a negative light on the quarterback’s reputation.

Despite the controversy and criticism, Brady has emerged from these scandals as one of the most successful and celebrated quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. With a record six Super Bowl victories, three MVP awards, and a record 18 division titles, Brady's legacy as one of the greatest players of all time remains untarnished. His ability to rebound from even the most serious of controversies has earned him a unique place in NFL history, and in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.